Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has called on the Federal Government to set up a committee to review the demands of workers.
Saraki made the call while speaking to journalists at the Eagles Square in Abuja where workers in the Federal Capital Territory met to mark Workers’ Day, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu.
The Senate President’s call came after workers refused to allow the Labour Minister, Dr. Chris Ngige, address them. Saraki said the minister would have announced some plans that the government had for the workers if he had been allowed to address them.
He, however, said the government appreciates the workers’ patience and understanding and assured that the National Assembly will play its part to ensure that the enactment of appropriate laws to back up policies that will improve workers’ welfare is made.
Workers disrupt rally in Abuja
Nigerian workers Monday disrupted the May Day rally at the Eagle Square in Abuja forcing the rally to end in chaos without the traditional march pass by labour unions.
More security had to be drafted into the Eagle Square arena to protect dignitaries invited for the celebration, forming a barricade to prevent the protesters from getting to the invited guest.
The 2017 May Day celebration attracted the largest crowd of workers in recent years.
Trouble started when the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Biola Bawa was called to read the address of the Minister, Senator Chris Ngige who was representing the President.
Even when the Minister stepped forward to address the workers, they refuse to allow him speak and all efforts to make them return to their seat failed, forcing the minister to return to his seat angrily.
Some of the workers insisted that if the President could not attend the rally to address them; he would have sent the Vice President instead of the Minister.
The shout of go back to your seat by the leadership of both the NLC and TUC was greater with a loud no by the workers.
Efforts by former Edo state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to calm the few workers failed as a few of them who gathered around the podium refused to listen, nor allow the event to continue.
When it was obvious that the protesters would not back down, security operatives of Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, whisked them out of the state box to their vehicles and they left the venue.
Other government officials including Senator Ngige also left. After the departure of the guests, the workers continued with the programme.
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